Wednesday, August 25, 2010

an old store sign holder brings back memories

When I was a little girl my family and I lived in an itty-bitty farming community in Central California. There was a dairy down each country road, horses grazing in pastures and big red barns dotting the outstretched green landscape. Bales of hay lined up like tin soldiers waiting to be distributed to the fat black and white cows. I remember the smells of those dairies – kind of pungent, especially on a hot summer evening. My uncle had a dairy and it was my very favorite place to go. Us kids would entertain ourselves for hours-on-end playing hide-and-go-seek around the stacked hay bales and chase each other around the barn and over the fenced pastures. We would stay out as long as we could before the mosquitoes would start to attack us.

Going “up town” was always such a treat. Oftentimes mom would treat us to an ice cream cone at the corner hamburger stand. My favorite: “The Twist” – you know, the half vanilla, half chocolate soft serve ice-cream. So cool and frosty…..mmm. (note to self: I am going to get one of those today!). Sometimes I would change it up a bit and settle for a chocolate dipped soft serve. Hard chocolate over frosty vanilla ice cream – cracking into pieces with each bite. Delicious!

Martino’s market was the go-to grocery store in town. I remember that the building had very high ceilings, brick walls, whirling black ceiling fans, a deli counter filled with fresh cut meats, pastry racks full of tempting treats, freshly made Portuguese sweet bread and an old black and white linoleum floor – PERFECT to play hopscotch on. This was also where I was at the day President Kennedy was assassinated. Mom and I had just driven up to the front of the store and the news flash came over the radio of our little yellow Rambler station wagon. Needless to say, we didn’t get to go inside the store that trip. Mom sat there and cried. I was only three, however I remember that moment very clearly.

Martino’s Market had hundreds of these old sign holders, too. When I saw this one at a flea market for $2.00 I snatched it up. Not only is it serendipitous, it has such a great look to it. Metal with a little rust…..perfection! I am also loving the contrast of the black frame against the white ironstone dishes.

So what do I want to put in the holder?

A picture?

A chalkboard?

Love notes?

I thought about using it to hold “what’s for dinner” – like a little menu board to stand on the counter, or table, when company comes for dinner.

So tell me, how would YOU use this piece?

I would LOVE to hear your ideas!!

See y’all next week! Till then, sending a ((hug)) to each and every one of you! Oh, and one more thing… Duhgall and Fiona want to remind you that a little nap now and then is good for the soul! *woof*

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I am also participating in my first "White Wednesday" at Faded Charm blog. Stop over to visit and see all of the beautiful posts for today.

37 comments:

Good morning Becky...girl I have a holder just like that and got it years ago..now I need to remember where I put it ha ha!! Maybe out in the barn..I love soft cones dipped in chocolate they were so good but had to eat them real fast and then the brain freeze would hit me ha ha !! Hope your having a great day on your piece of Calif. Hope to meet you in Oct at the festival...Hugs and smiles Gl♥ria

What gorgeous photos and descriptive narrative! What would I do? Since I'm not much in the cooking department, I'd probably put that sign holder out in my garden. I'd either train vines up it and/or put a sign in it of some kind. Like: "This way to the garden" or something along those lines.Brenda

I love things like this, too! An old, sepia-toned photo would look great in the sign holder. I look forward to your blog and am so disappointed when I check and there's not a new posting! P.S. Not to be an English teacher, but I think you mean "bales" of hay. I always won the spelling bee in school :-)

I love your memories and the words you use to share them...I could see it all. from the red barns and the fat cows to the kids playing hide and seek in the hay. Sounds like you had a lovely childhood.

We had a Diary Queen 2 blocks away - it was the first place I was allowed to walk to all by myself. The ice cream dipped in chocolate was my favorite ~ did you eat all the hard chocolate off first? I did!

My Martino's Market was called Randazzo's Market...they had those sign holders too! The one you found is great...a menu holder sounds like a neat idea but me, well I'd have to use it for grandbaby photos. There's a surprise!

Please tell Dughall and Fiona thanks for the reminder - it's a good one. I wonder if anyone in the office would notice if I closed my eyes for just a little while........

Well my Sweet Dear!Want my opinion?I like it just like it is!I wouldn't put anything in the middle!I love it 'see~through'!Snuggles to Fiona and Duhgall!Wags from Doogan!And love on Miss Socks from me!Happy Day to you!I can just see you playing at the dairy farm!I too have memories of fun times at a dairy farm in Alabama!Makes me so sad when I pass it now and it's all grown up with weeds.Every time I pass I can just see it as it used to be!Sad how it has to just get all covered up with weeds and brush.And I LOVE those chocolate dipped soft~serve ice cream cones! Oh yeah!Happy Week Sweetpea!xoxoxoox

Oh, so sweet Becky. If you used a little twine, you could change the picture periodically. An old picture, ephemera (I posted on this word ;-))a chalkboard, or even a small wreath. You're going to have fun, and I'm sure whatever you decide on will look good.Blessings,Marcia

Oh Becky you had a wonderful childhood like me. We lived in thecountry too and we would walk up tothe little country store for bread and milk or a candy bar. Well whenI was 36yr. old the store was outof business and the owners whom I had known all my life were movingso I bought the showcase counterthat I had always bought candy etc.over. I have all my vintage and antique toys in it as well as a lotfrom my childhood. My dolls,bear,clown (which my grandma gave me thedollar to buy) and my baby dress,shoes,bracelet and a whole lot more. I also have bread,coke,Dr.Pepper,signs as wellas the Jack's cookie jar we use to pay a penny and get a big cookie. I think you should put a picture ofyou at the age you use to visit thestore. When I saw it I was thinkingpicture before I read anything.I was in 7th grade science class when they announced over the intercom that President Kennedywas killed. There was not a dryeye in the place. ":O)

What wonderful memories! Where in central CA did you live? My family has lived in small central CA towns for ages. I miss the small towns,landscapes and those great old barns of California so much. Love the old sign holder. Your doggies are the cutest! Oh, and my favorite is the chocolate/vanilla swirl- sounds SO good right now!Michelle

After reading your post Becky the first thing that came to my mind was finding a vintage ice cream cone picture. I'm sure whatever you decide to put in it will be wonderful. What a fun find! I loved swirl ice cream!!!Debbie

I love the idea of the "What's For Dinner" menu! We have a charming little neighborhood spot that serves soft swirl ice cream cones. It's decorated in a retro theme and the line goes around the corner on a summer evening. Ah for the sweet simple life!

I love your story...aaahhh reminds me of my summer vacations with my grandparents in Turlock Ca. It would be soooooo hot!!! We would make homemade ice cream, the fresh strawberries ssooo yummy. It seemed like hours as my brother and I would take turns cranking that ice cream machine. So well worth the effort though. As for your sign holder I would use it for love notes:)

Hi Becky! Thanks for the sweet memories of my childhod also! My grandparents owned a farm in Va. Thursdays we went into town (West Point) for grocery shopping, and we got to go to the Ben Franklin 5 & dime. Then to the drugstore soda fountain for root beet floats! I used to call the bales of hay....Hay cubes. they also had a cow, called Morning Glory. I loved her, but not the milk. I always asked for "store" milk not cow milk! I believed chocolate milk came from the black and white cows too! Ahhh, they were the good old days. I love your sign. I would put a chalkboard in for menu's, quotes, and whatever else. Very fun piece!

What a wonderful post Becky! I love to hear times of the past! You made me hungry for a "Twist"...must have one to! Sounds like you had great times growing up and memories to cherish forever. I remember very well also where I was when I heard the news of President Kennedy. I think we all do.

I love the "What's for Dinner" idea...what fond memories of that era! I heard about the death of our President while at school in 3rd grade (I think)? We all cried and prayed together...led by out teacher!